Customer Reviews

Calico Palace

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I actually owned this book in the 70's (and loved it). I have no idea why I gave it away, as now I had to buy another used copy. Hope I didn't buy my own back again!

This is a book about Kendra, who with her mother and step father came to San Francisco right before the start of the gold rush. Kendra was an unwanted child, and she soon finds the man of her dreams, marries him and they are off to the gold country. Among the group they are travelling with are Marny, the proverbial good girl gone bad, who is going to the gold camps to set up a saloon/gambling hall with her partner. All goes well at first, until a secret about Ted's past shatter's Kendra's happiness. Marny and Kendra return to San Francisco and Kendra works to rebuild her life, as Marny works on building a new Calico Palace instead of the tent she had at the gold camp.

The author does a wonderful job of bringing both San Francisco and the gold country to life. I loved the touch she put in about the first steamer to arrive with real gold seekers from the east coast, and the harrowing tale of the first group to cross the isthmus. The story takes you through the muck and mud, torrential rains, fires, thievery and everything else that came about as a result of instant wealth that the gold brought. The characters were wonderful, especially Pocket (loved Pocket's pockets).

All in all a pretty perfect read, and I'm sorry the story had to come to an end. Highly recommended for any lover of historical fiction or tales of the gold country. As a side note, for any who are interested in the gold country and it's history, I highly recommend taking the time to visit it. So many of the original towns are still there, with much of the original buildings. Up and down Highway 49, it's one adorable gold rush town after another.

Each time I read this book, I come away with something new - but familiar. It is like a visit to old friends. I am familiar with Kendra, Marney, Pockets and the rest of the characters, and I always wish I could read more about them. This is one of those books that causes you to read the final chapter slowly - even though you want to see how it ends - just to savor it. The assortment of characters is delightful - the descriptions of the locations will have you knowing what it was like to "be there" - and the story is full of twists and turns, which keeps you turning the pages. It would make a great movie!

I have read "Calico Palace" at least a dozen times over the last 20 years and I enjoy it as much or more every time. I always get some new life lesson out of it as I grow and change, and it is always an entertaining read! I consider it the best book I have ever read, and I have read thousands of books. The historical information woven throughout the fictional tale is fascinating, and Ms. Bristow always finds a way to tell of even the most horrific events without depressing the reader in the least. What a great story! I plan to read it at least a dozen more times!

Calico Palace is a life story of two women braving the wilds of old San Francisco together. Kendra and Marny have to depend on one another to face the trials/rigors of daily life as the California gold rush blazes past them. Love, tragedy, resolution - this book contains it all.

This is yet another wonderful book by Gwen Bristow.

When I was in middle school, I had outgrown the Nancy Drew mysteries. I discovered this book in our school library. It quickly became a favorite. I don't know how many hours I spent in my room lost in another time. The language and style is easy to read and the descriptions make you feel like you are back in another era. It is the intellectual equivalent of playing "dress-up" -- imagining that you are the beautiful heroine of another time.

I guess I just really liked historical fiction because it was so much more appealing to me than modern day. You didn't have to worry about the cliques at school.

The book is also just good clean story with an engaging story line. Themes are simple and there isn't the moral gnashing of teeth that seems to be much more popular in more recent books (such as the Luxe series that is currently en vogue).

And, being historical fiction, it also gives you a glimpse into history so when you read it -- especially as an adolescent -- you might actually wind up learning some real history... or at least be motivated to explore it some more.

I am the mother of two boys so they will never read these books. But I'm so happy to see them released again so I can go back and revisit another time -- in American life and in my own.

This is one of my all time favorite books. I've read it and reread it, and every time, it pulls me in. I'm always surprised to find myself warm and dry, instead of panning for gold, or caught in a mudslide. It is a wonderful historical novel set among the first settlers of California. It has everything... history, love, adventure, drama! It is written in a way that you wish that you could step through the cover and actually visit the Calico Palace, and meet face to face with Pocket, Hiram, Kendra, and Marny.

I picked this up a few months ago, on recommendation of a friend, after trying to read it in high school (and failing). I very much enjoyed this on the second try.

This is the story of Kendra and Marney, two women who come to San Francisco just prior to gold being found. Kendra is the proper step-daughter of an Army officer, and makes the "right" choices in life, while Marney is a card dealer. When they travel to the goldfields, the two strike up a friendship that withstands the trials of life, first there, then back in San Francisco.

I enjoyed this book because it painted a very vivid picture of San Francisco, and beautifully captured how gold changed everything, except the girls' friendship. when Kendra arrives, it's a sleepy little town, but, by the end of the book, it's a booming town with many issues. The book made you really feel like you were there, worrying about the risk of fire to their buildings, and hoping that life would cut them a break. And there is a really beautiful scene where Kendra has to reject a former flame; you really understand how hard it is for her to walk away, but she bravely does.

I'm glad this book is still in print. I searched down a used copy of it, before finding out that it was reissued. It is a well-written story that stands the test of time; I didn't feel like I was reading a trashy 60s romance novel but rather, a book that was as exciting and fun as anything written today. If you enjoy a rich story with fun characters, this is a book that needs to go on your shelf!

Calico Palace, by Gwen Bristow, is a rich, rollicking historical novel set in the early days of the Califormia Gold Rush and the formation of the city of San Francisco. There is accurate historical detail throughout the novel, yet it is skillfully woven into the story line in such a way that it is never plodding or boring. The characters are fully developed and inspire empathy and respect. A very entertaining read for lovers of historical romance!

This is one of the best books I have ever read. I pull it out as least once a year and every time I read it I find something new. All of her books are good but this one is my favorite.

My mom recommended this book and then I checked out the ratings for it here and found 5 stars. I must agree. The story is great and boy did I learn alot. I wish there would have been a little more romance, but this was written awhile ago, and I am used to Nora Roberts. Otherwise, kept me turning all those pages and I was never bored. A great book for younger (12-15 yr) readers. Clean stuff and alot of history.